84 STAT.]
PUBLIC LAW 91-581-DEC. 24, 1970
leases shall have the right to convert such leases or permits or claims to geothermal leases covering the same lands; (b) where there are conflicting claims, leases, or permits therefor embracing the same land, the person who first was issued a lease or permit, or who first recorded the mining claim shall be entitled to first consideration; (c) with respect to all lands which were on September 7, 1965, the subject of applications for leases or permits under the above Acts, the applicants may convert their applications to applications for geothermal leases having priorities dating from the time of filing of such applications under such Acts; (d) no person shall be permitted to convert mineral leases, permits, applications therefor, or mining claims for more than 10,240 acres; and (e) the conversion of leases, permits, and mining claims and applications for leases and permits shall be accomplished in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary. No right to conversion to a geothermal lease shall accrue to any person under this section unless such person shows to the reasonable satisfaction of the Secretary that substantial expenditures for the exploration, development, or production of geothermal steam have been made by the applicant who is seeking conversion, on the lands for which a lease is sought or on adjoining, adjacent, or nearby Federal or non-Federal lands. (f) with respect to lands within any known geothermal resources area and which are subject to a right to conversion to a geothermal lease, such lands shall be leased by competitive bidding: Provided, That, the competitive geothermal lease shall be issued to the person owning the right to conversion to a geothermal lease if he makes payment of an amount equal to the highest bona fide bid for the competitive geothermal lease, plus the rental for the first year, within thirty days after he receives written notice from the Secretary of the amount of the highest bid. SEC. 5. Geothermal leases shall provide for— (a) a royalty of not less than 10 per centum or more than 15 per centum of the amount or value of steam, or any other form of heat or energy derived from production under the lease and sold or utilized by the lessee or reasonably, susceptible to sale or utilization by the lessee; (b) a royalty of not more than 5 per centum of the value of any byproduct derived from production under the lease and sold or utilized or reasonably susceptible of sale or utilization by the lessee, except that as to any byproduct which is a mineral named in section 1 of the Mineral Leasing Act of February 25, 1920, as amended (30 U.S.C. 181), the rate of royalty for such mineral shall be the same as that provided in that Act and the maximum rate of royalty for such mineral shall not exceed the maximum royalty applicable under that Act; (c) payment in advance of an annual rental of not less than $1 per acre or fraction thereof for each year of the lease. If there is no well on the leased lands capable of producing geothermal resources in commercial quantities, the failure to pay rental on or before the anniversary date shall terminate the lease by operation of law: Provided, however, That whenever the Secretary discovers that the rental payment due under a lease is paid timely but the amount of the payment is deficient because of an error or other reason and the deficiency is nominal, as determined by the Secretary pursuant to regulations prescribed by him, he shall notify the lessee of the deficiency and such lease shall not automatically terminate unless
1567
Acreage limitation.
L e a s e provisions. Royalties.
41 Stat. 437.
Rent.
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